2020 Fashion on the Ration Challenge

Cherryfudge

ETA: I might try a cheap pair of unpadded shorts and add the padding myself - tailored to where the bruises were! Then I'll wear something over them to hide the shape

I'd suggest buying the real thing.  The bike shorts I have are padded with chamoix leather and don't get smelly from sweat.  You can always wear a pair of leggings over them in the winter, to keep warmer.

I'll take your recommendation. I'm sure the ones I borrowed from DH were something not as strong as leather. I will start looking properly, as opposed to browsing idly, soon.

Cooking fat could take a while to get out but I think it will go eventually. I know the remedy for engine oil is Eucalyptus oil (plus you will have a clear nose for weeks afterwards from the smell!) but I wonder if you need to use a hot iron and brown paper or kitchen roll? I don't think I've tried that as a first move: I usually head for pure soap rubbed into the area and rubbed in before washing out with localised warm water, but I'm not sure... I think I'd use that on the cotton shirt.

MrsCD

I've used eucalyptus oil successfully on DH's polycotton shirts in the past to get oily stains out. Rub in gently to disperse the oil then give a good squirt of Fairy liquid afterwards, and put in the washer. Repeat if necessary.

Cherryfudge

I found this in the wonderful Supertips by Moyra Bremner, 1983. Not from the ration era but a valuable resource for all sorts of traditional and not-so-traditional know-how.

missychrissy

I’ve got that book too and another written by her. Excellent!

Laura_Elsewhere

@PipneyJane - this is why I keep a faded old black long-sleeve top and change into it when doing any major frying! 

First, I would soak it in something enzymatic like BioTex (I love that stuff...) then I would use washing-up liquid and an old toothbrush *on the back* so you are pushing the fat back out of the front, not washing it right through. Work the w-u-l into the whole area and rinse under cool/tepid running water, again from the back. 
Repeat two or three times and don't expose it to heat. Let it air-dry a bit and see how obvious it is, and repeat. Leave it overnight in a bucket of water between goes. 
You may be working on it some time... and it also may never come out properly. I've had some tops it did and some it didn't. 

An apron with a bib is good, or keep a long-sleeved fat-catcher top...! 

PipneyJane

Thank you Ladies.  I've got Eucalyptus oil-based cleaning solution in the cupboard, so will give it a go.  (My sister swears by the stuff and brings me a bottle or two whenever she visits.)  I've also got pure Eucalyptus Oil in the bathroom, where I use it to scent bath wash liquid handsoap. 

Speaking of stains... You may remember the saga of my cream sweater and the tomato sauce stain.  After following Laura's advice and soaking the entire jumper in reconstituted, dried, full-fat milk for a day, I've washed and worn it a few times.  Before I wash it, I pour milk onto the remaining stain and leave the jumper overnight.  It's almost gone!  I had to look very carefully earlier to spot where it was.  There's a very faint, red tinge to 3 stitches.   The initial soak took care of some generalised dinginess and lightened the stain a little (as well as using up the "wrong" dried milk that DH bought).  The spot soaks have done the rest.

I will try and post pictures later, if my iPad will oblige.

- Pip

PipneyJane

Laura_Elsewhere said:

@PipneyJane - this is why I keep a faded old black long-sleeve top and change into it when doing any major frying! 

First, I would soak it in something enzymatic like BioTex (I love that stuff...) then I would use washing-up liquid and an old toothbrush *on the back* so you are pushing the fat back out of the front, not washing it right through. Work the w-u-l into the whole area and rinse under cool/tepid running water, again from the back. 
Repeat two or three times and don't expose it to heat. Let it air-dry a bit and see how obvious it is, and repeat. Leave it overnight in a bucket of water between goes. 
You may be working on it some time... and it also may never come out properly. I've had some tops it did and some it didn't. 

An apron with a bib is good, or keep a long-sleeved fat-catcher top...! 

Guess what my husband said to me, when I went "Ouch" after being splashed with hot fat yesterday?  (I was frying steak at the time.)  "Why aren't you wearing your apron???"

The other top got marked because I was putting the big cooking oil bottle away, after refilling the smaller dispenser-with-fancy-nozzle that lives on the kitchen counter.  The big bottle goes on the top shelf of one of the cupboards.  Normally, I'd place it on the kitchen table, position a chair/step-stool between the cupboard and the table, climb up, pick up the oil bottle and position it in the cupboard.  One problem.... My kitchen table is currently doing duty as my desk, in another room.  I stupidly held the bottle to my chest while I clambered onto a chair, in order to put it away.  Result:  grease spots in cleavage.  

I'll give the eucalyptus a go.  At least it'll smell lovely.

- Pip  

TwibbleDee

I balanced the budget today.  It might be a good thing that I didn't find any shirts.  

Cherryfudge

TwibbleDee said:

I balanced the budget today.  It might be a good thing that I didn't find any shirts.  

Oh dear. At least it's been balanced, though. Better to know than stretch it too far.
Have you tried those little clip-in inserts designed for low necklines? I have about three and I don't think I've ever worn them but they are there for emergencies. Living in England there aren't too many days where necklines can go too low without risking chilblains.  

Laura_Elsewhere

@TwibbleDee - until I started trying to stick to my coupons 2 or 3 years ago, I had no idea how much money I was wasting on buying cheap clothes that wore out in weeks, or never really fitted so I didn't wear them, or just plain didn't go with anything else so I never wore them...! 
It's definitely saved a fair amount, learning to buy or make decent-quality stuff that works with other things I wear and fits me properly!